Anne-Marie (Dannenhoffer) Klein (1819 - 1897)

Born 18 Aug 1819 in Kalhausen, Moselle, France

Ancestors

Wife of Jean Klein — married 18 Apr 1846 in Rahling, Moselle, France

Descendants

Died 12 May 1897 at age 77 in Williamsville, Amherst, Erie, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Craig Kanalley [send private message] and Vernon Ford [send private message]

Biography

Mary (Dannenhoffer) Klein migrated from France to USA.

Anne-Marie Dannenhoffer was born on 18 August 1819 in Kalhausen, Moselle, France^[1]. She was the daughter of Pierre Dannenhoffer and Anne Freiss.

As a single woman, she had a child with Jean Klein, who was from the neighboring village of Schmittviller, and not long after they married on 18 Apr 1846 in Rahling^[2]. All of their children together:

1. Nicolas b. 1844 (born illegitimately)
2. Anne b. 1846
3. Maria b. 1848 (first child born in United States)
4. John b. 1850
5. Margaret b. 1852
6. Jacob b. 1854
7. George b. 1856 (lived to be 103 years old)
8. Philip b. 1859 d. 1859
9. Catherine b. 1860
10. Unnamed child b. 1862 d. 1862
11. Magdalena b. 1864
12. Amelia b. 1866

She was known as Mary in the United States, and occasionally went by Sophie.

She passed away on 12 May 1897 in Williamsville. She was buried at St. Michael's Cemetery in Williamsville^[3]

Her death notice appeared in the Buffalo Evening News on 14 May 1897^[4]:

Death of Mrs. John Klein

---

WILLIAMSVILLE, May 14 (Special). - The death of Mrs. John Klein occurred Wednesday evening at her home in the 77th year of her age. She is survived by her husband, four sons and six daughters. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at SS. Peter and Paul's Church.

Research Notes

While it has proven to be untrue, one of her granddaughters Eleanor said in an interview in 1985 that she came from Holland^[5]. Further research showed she was from Moselle, France, but it's possible the Dannenhoffers had roots in Holland further back. Another granddaughter Frances said to consider variations of her maiden name, like Edendhoffer, to learn more about the family's origins^[6].

Records in Moselle suggest that the Dannenhoffers first settled in the region from Luxembourg. The family joined others in Lorraine as glassmakers and some Dannenhoffers carried on that occupation in the United States.

Here's an interesting oral family tradition regarding her roots: According to descendants of her son George Klein, who lived to be 103 years old, she was a descendant of the family of General Johanus Theobald Metzger Von Weinbrow^[7]. In the early 1700s, he supposedly lent a large sum of money to the Holland government. Her grandchildren apparently sent two lawyers to Holland to attempt to collect the debt^[7]. The lawyers returned and claimed the complications were too numerous to collect any money and if money could be collected, it would bankrupt Holland. Could this be true?

General Johanus Theobald Metzger von Weinbrow was born in 1626 and died in 1691. He had a huge fortune at the time of his death but no children. In the will, it said his siblings were the next heirs, but their descendants - despite more than a century of claims - were never awarded what was theirs^[8]. There may be truth to the family story, especially since legal efforts were ongoing in the 1800s and Anne-Marie was born in 1819 in Kalhausen. Interestingly, there is a METZGER family in Kalhausen, dating back to the 1600s, and at least one of General Metzger's brothers settled in Alsace-Lorraine. It seems possible Anne-Marie descends of the family, but proving it may be difficult. One interesting note: General Metzger's mother was apparently from Webenheim, only 22km from Wiesviller where Anne-Marie had known Schuver ancestors.

^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: Kalhausen, Moselle, France Church Records
2. ↑ Marriage: Rahling, Moselle, France Church Records
3. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30284585/maria-klein : accessed 19 February 2022), memorial page for Maria Dannenhoffer Klein (18 Aug 1819–12 May 1897), Find a Grave Memorial ID 30284585, citing Saint Michael's Cemetery, Williamsville, Erie County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Craig Kanalley (contributor 50538105) .
4. ↑ Death Notice: Newspapers.com Database, Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, New York. 14 May 1897, Fri, Pg. 17. Death of Mrs. John Klein, Williamsville. https://www.newspapers.com/image/328362449. Accessed 19 Feb 2022.
5. ↑ Herrmann, Eleanor (Beaser), personal recollections shared with her son Kenneth, 1985.
6. ↑ Grundtisch, Frances (Beaser), personal recollections shared with her nephew Kenneth.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Notes of Mrs. Leonard Klein, a grandson of George Klein and great-grandson of Anne-Marie Dannenhoffer, citing a connection between Anne-Marie Dannenhoffer and General Johanus Thebald Metzger Von Weinbrow, shared with Klein family researcher and descendant Craig Kanalley via GG, another descendant of George.
8. ↑ "Rothermel Families in America". The Rothermel Family Association. Harrowood Books. 1989. Excerpt documenting the claims related to General Johanus Theobald Metzger von Weinbrow at http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/t/a/tar2/mark/pafn16.htm. Accessed 19 Feb 2022.
9. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Vernon Ford. somehow merge with klein-211